DURHAM, NC—NC Central scored six runs through the first six innings and the Eagles rolled to an 8-4 win over visiting, NJIT, in nine innings, to secure the rubber match of the three-game weekend baseball series between the two teams.

The teams split a doubleheader in Durham on Saturday afternoon, with the Highlanders prevailing, in the opener, 5-4, before the Eagles won the nightcap in extra innings, 6-5.

NC Central improves to 7-5 on the season while the Highlanders drop to 3-7.

The Eagles opened up the game with a run in the bottom of the second, added three in the third and scored a run in the fourth and sixth inning, taking a 6-0 lead.

NJIT scored a pair of runs in the final two innings, including a two-run homer by CF Jesse Uttendorfer in the top of the ninth while the Eagles added a run in the eighth, securing an 8-4 victory.

The Highlanders DH Stephan Halibej and C Cody Kramer each connected on singles to centerfield, driving in a run each in the top of the eighth.  Uttendorfer's two-run homer in the top of the ninth was his first of the season.

Starting and winning pitcher Alex Dandridge (1-1) pitched the six innings, yielding the Highlanders to just two hits and one walk, while, striking out two.  Three relievers—Grant Cain, Justice Sampson and Patrick Kline combined to close out the game over the final three innings.

NC Central got things going in the bottom of the second on an RBI double down the right field line by 3B John Ortiz, scoring RF Zachary Marszal, who reached base on a double to right field.

The Eagles added three runs in the third on three hits and one NJIT error, while SS Thomas Prospero drove in a run in the bottom fourth followed by an RBI single by LF Jacobi Harris in the sixth, for a 6-0 lead.

The starting and losing pitcher for NJIT was senior LHP Ian Bentley (1-2), who allowed six runs (five earned) in five innings.  The Highlanders called on four more pitchers – the two most effective – sophomore Tommy Derer and freshman Brett Lubreski, who held the Eagles hitless and scoreless through the sixth and seventh inning.

Halibej, the only Highlander with more than one hit Sunday, went 2-for-3 with one RBI.  Uttendorfer, who recorded his first homer of the season in the top of ninth, finished 1-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.

NJIT will return to action on Wednesday at 4pm when the Highlanders visit Seton Hall in South Orange, NJ.